Customs Entry Process for K-1 Question

[Flynn G 9]

Hello,

 

My fiancé is arriving tomorrow and I'm wanting to help prepare her for what to expect. Is it standard to have the K-1 visa holder go into secondary screening to go over the visa packet she's bringing or do they often handle it right there at the first counter? She had a little bit of an intimidating secondary screening incident while visiting on a tourist visa a year ago.

 

Any insight into what sort of questioning she'll likely get? Thanks,

 

Flynn

[Flynn G 9]

19 minutes ago, LizM said:

It's standard to do secondary screening when you enter on a K1. In my case it went like this:

 

- CBP officer asked me to go to a separate room, sit and wait

- CBP officer went behind a counter in the room, looked through my envelope and tapped on the computer keyboard for a few minutes

- CBP officer called me to the counter and asked "Are you going to marry (First Name, Last Name)?" and I said "Yes."

- CBP officer gave me my things and told me we were done

Than you. Also, did you just declare all of your clothes and personal items on the customs card?

[C90 376]

7 hours ago, LizM said:

It's standard to do secondary screening when you enter on a K1. In my case it went like this:

 

- CBP officer asked me to go to a separate room, sit and wait

- CBP officer went behind a counter in the room, looked through my envelope and tapped on the computer keyboard for a few minutes

- CBP officer called me to the counter and asked "Are you going to marry (First Name, Last Name)?" and I said "Yes."

- CBP officer gave me my things and told me we were done

It depends completely on where you enter, what time (sometimes if it's really quite they will do it right at the 'counter' instead of in a separate room) and the CBP officer.

 

I entered in Dublin (overseas POE), handed the CBP officer my passport with visa and the white envelope. He checked the paperwork, asked me if I had food with me (I declared it), stamped my passport and told me before which date we should get married. That was it. Never went into a separate room.

 

People I know that entered in Chicago and LAX didn't go into a separate room either, they basically had the process as me.

 

OP, don't worry, Even if they take her in a separate room it's just regulation.

She should declare all food and I believe presents (in the event she takes new phones or laptops still in the box or other presents, she'll need to declare them) All her other stuff (personal phone/laptop, clothes etc) she doesn't have to declare, unless the card specifically asks for it.

Make sure she reads the card well before filling it out, they usually have them in multiple languages (in case her English is not good enough)